What Not to Miss in London for the Next 2 Weeks

I’m guessing right now you’re part human part sloth and you haven’t seen a scrap of food in the last 48 hours that wasn’t wrapped in cling film. And don’t even get me started on the cheese board demolition. But that’s what we love about Christmas! I hope you had a beautiful Christmas and are relaxing on Boxing Day. Who’s ready for New Year’s Eve? Well if you’re not ready yet, read on and you will be…

This is the crème de la crème of NYE parties/balls and well, anything. At the Battersea Evolution, the NYE carnivale is a night of magical live entertainment, incredible food and an electric atmosphere. From 7:30 a.m. the party starts and truly doesn’t stop until you see the fireworks from the Thames that bring you into 2017 that are live streamed into the party. You don’t miss a thing! There’s a drink and canapé reception, a four course banquet, unlimited house beer, wine and soft drinks all night and even casino tables for that extra entertainment. Get practicing your samba and searching for your outfit to make an appearance at this night not to forget! Tickets start at £175.

See out 2016 with what us Londoners do best – brunch. A bottomless brunch at that! The Coin Laundry are bringing us a brunch with a difference with a 1970’s theme and a fun day to remember. Get tickets with as many friends as you like and spend your slot playing retro bingo, doing a list of funny tasks and of course, drinking unlimited Bloody Mary’s, gin & elderflower and Buck’s Fizz for 2 hours. That’s a lot of 70’s drinking and escapades! Tickets are £35 and with that you also get a main meal, a complimentary desert and 2-4-1 voucher. This brunch just keeps on giving and will set you up perfectly for your last night of the year.

Party animals, this one’s for you. I’m not trying to be funny – that is the theme for this fancy dress event! Let’s face it, we all bring the new year in with a drink… or 5. So if unlimited booze is what you’re looking for above anything else, then Adventure Bar is offering exactly that. It makes it even better that it’s fancy dress and there’s a £100 bar tab for the best dressed animal! Kitty cat anyone? At their Clapham venues (High Street and Junction) you can get an entry ticket or an all-you-can-drink ticket. There’s also buffet food served between 7 p.m.-9 p.m. to line your stomachs (just like our mums tell us too). In their Covent Garden branch it’s just an entry ticket which gets you guaranteed entry before 10 p.m. So get you kitten ears on, draw on your whiskers and get ready to drink your way into 2017.

4. A New Year’s Eve Thames boat ride

If you weren’t successful in getting tickets for the famous London fireworks, but still want to see the Capital light up – then a boat ride is your answer. What’s better than a front row seat to beautiful fireworks whilst floating down the river? Board early, have some drinks, be treated to dinner on-board and ring in the New Year on the waterways. There’s still so many options for tickets with all different offers including City Cruises that are offering tickets for their Celestial Cruise that comes with a deluxe hamper filled with food and champagne as well as live music by Sax & Honey. There’s also London Party Boats that are offering disco cruises with packages suitable for every bank account.

5. Rooftop bar – a drink with the view of fireworks

On any other normal night the views across London are unmissable, but on NYE? They’re going to be spectacular. The Sky Garden has tickets available for their 1920’s Great Gatsby bash up in their rooftop gardens renowned for the amazing views and even better tasting cocktails! There’ll be music from Juke Joints as well as the option for a ticket that includes dinner at the Brassiere. If a view is what you’re looking for – then Madison rooftop bar is one to check out, Skylounge at Hilton has amazing views over Tower Bridge, and of course the Oxo Tower is always unmissable!

6. An Inception New Year

The Inception Group are famous around London for having THE best themed bars, restaurants and clubs. They’re like no others and they prove just how crazy the imagination can be! Between their venues all across London, they’re offering us some amazing options for New Year’s Eve. At Bunga Bunga, Battersea Don Vito Corleone and Silvio Berlusconi invite you with a glass of champagne to a decadent 7 course meal to see the year out right. Your ticket (£95) also gets you access to the party until 4 a.m. At Mr. Fogg’s residence (Mayfair), he and Passepartout are back from their travels and are holding a Victorian Masquerade extravaganza. There are canapés flowing and unlimited Belvedere creations all night – all you need is your Venetian mask! Visit their website for even more NYE themed nights.

7. New Year’s Day Parade

For the past 30 years, the London’s New Year’s Day Parade or the LNYDP as well like to call it, has been showcasing the very best of what London has to offer. It’s certainly grown since the 2,000 participants at the very beginning – now there’s 10,000 participants with a street audience of over 500,000. The annual London parade kicks off this year at 12 noon from Piccadilly and is nonstop fun and attractions all the way down to Parliament Street. Joining us this year in the parade is Alexis I Du Pont High School with their 8th appearance in the festivities, All The Queen’s Horses with their equestrian show, American Cop Cars and much much more. Keep checking our lineup of musicians, performers and floats here. Along with the parade, there’ll be entries from some of the 31 boroughs of London in some form of entertainment in the theme of the year to showcase the diversity and greatness of our beloved City. Keep your eyes out for yours!

8. Serpentine fun run

Fancy making the start of the year your best one yet and not just a hungover mess craving Dominoes? Make good on your best intentions and get involved in the Serpentine Running Club’s 10k New Year’s Day run. I mean, that is a lot to ask; so if you still fancy getting sweaty but not up to a 10k, get involved in their 3k run as well. The run will start on Main Street and take you through some of London’s prettiest green area— Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens and then finish near the new boathouse, west of Winter Wonderland. Their 10k starts at 11 a.m. and the 3k at 12 p.m. Good luck!

9. New Years Day Breakfast Club

New Year’s Day antics are slowly becoming just as extravagant and massive as the night’s before. In London, there’s always something going on and NYD is no different. Time to brush yourself off, have a coffee and get back to the festivities! Percolate have teamed up with The Breakfast Club to bring you a day of partying to carry on from NYE, with a fresh breakfast of pastries and a buffet table to give you fuel for the hours ahead. There’s DJ’s including Jane Fitz’s 4-hour techno set, MR Solid Gold, Park Ranger and Saoirse will all be there for the first breakfast of the year!

The brand new musical to hit Broadway is one to surely get you moving – who doesn’t love a Motown boogie? The Shaftesbury Theatre has the pleasure of hosting Berry Gordy’s journey from featherweight boxer to music mogul who is responsible for launching some of our musical legends – Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson and Michael Jackson. Watch the stories behind the hits of the legends and how Motown became the soundtrack that changed America. I’m sure you won’t be spending much time in your seat at this one – you can’t resist when the songs get going! Tickets are from £41 and it’s here until April.

Contributor

Megan is originally from Sheffield, but now in London and living the commuter life. I love to travel and eat - the perfect combination of multi-tasking. I also love to write and explore London, which I'm slowly but surely doing.
"There is so much opportunity in London. As cheesy as it sounds if there is any occassion, event or new restaurant that everyone wants to try - it's in London. Everything is at your feet and that makes it not just my favourite, but most exciting City to live in (New York comes a very, very close second)."